Palaŋ-Fýtap

The Palaŋ-Fýtap are the movements used in locomotive/communicatory actions regarding the legs, called the Vëtiš. They are primarily limited by the Оö-Fýtap, a thin ring acting as the main nerve connector between each leg and the brain. However, they are integral to Ibrófeneðian social and cultural life in that a core part of most cultures dwells on how one can cheat the limitations and create movements not typically 'Ibrófeneðian'.

Most Ibrófeneðs contain only two pieces of bone on the Оö-Fýtap, meaning that only two legs can communicate with the brain at once. This does not necessarily mean that only two legs can move; due to signal lag and other glitch-like phenomena, up to 6 legs can express movement at once, but only the two directly linked to the brain can change and sustain movements, especially those not physically spontaneous.

In studies of the Ibrófeneð species, the Palaŋ-Fýtap are not expressed in terms of the movements of the legs themselves, nor the signals given by the brain, but the movements of the Оö-Fýtap itself.

Types of Movements

Walking I (Palaŋ-Šýapar)

Walking I, or 'Unmoving Movement' (referring to the lack of movement of the Súro, or head) refers to the most dominant type of walking movement, in which an Ibrófeneð orients his body such that it faces in a fixed direction. No legs point directly at the direction of walking, but the 8 legs are grouped into 2 groups which perform sequential steps. Using this method, an Ibrófeneð's typical walking speed is in the range of 3-6 m/s.

In each group of 4, only two are actually used in walking, with the other two 'deactivated'. These two active legs, called the front and the back, are designated to be at equidistant positions from one another, such that each leg, when moving, has enough ground to cover. Given the limitation of the Оö-Fýtap to two opposite legs, the front leg of one side moves at the same time as the back leg of the other. The Оö-Fýtap itself does not do much in movement except sway in a routine fashion between the two pairs of legs.

Walking II (Palaŋ-Žöm)

Walking II, or 'Circular Movement', refers to the act of continuously rotating one's body as one walks in a certain direction. It is most used if the Ibrófeneð is especially attentive towards his surroundings, as the constant shifting in perspective forces the brain to receive clear input from all of its eyes instead of just a few. Consequently, the increase in brain use, and the increased complexity in the movements themselves, means that this type of walking is slower than Walking I, at around 2-3 m/s.

The motion of the Оö-Fýtap is also much more complex, as the circular motion requires the use of all 8 legs to ensure stability. Thus, the motion of the Оö-Fýtap is one of continuous rotation, in which all legs are cycled through. For each pair of legs, the signal must constantly change; since directions are given in the perspective of the leg itself, objective, outside-perspective directions like cardinal directions shift greatly based on where the leg itself is facing. From an outsider, all legs must move in the direction of travel all while the body itself is caused to rotate. For the Ibrófeneð, a leg facing to the left of the direction of motion must step right, a leg facing in the direction of motion must step forward, and a leg to the right must step to the left. Thus, not only must the signal change upon each turn the Оö-Fýtap makes, but the signals given to each individual leg of each pair must also differ from its counterpart. This immense challenge in coordination and brain function is often one of the last things an Ibrófeneð gets to learn in the Ašýöšïb, or adolescent, stage.

Running (Palaŋ-Gúhöfaš)

Given a name meaning 'Flickering Movement', referring to the tendency for for the eyes to lose focus, or 'flicker', when an Ibrófeneð moves at a fast speed, it is very similar to Walking I in that it involves a swaying motion of the Оö-Fýtap. However, the difference lies in the brain signals, which in this case are changed such that the force applied by each leg is amplified greatly to fling it into the air as well as push the creature forward. Once in the air, the Оö-Fýtap can leave the leg early, as the falling of the leg happens on its own. By the time it reaches the ground again, the Оö-Fýtap will have reached it again, allowing another large force to be applied.